The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-01
JEFF DAVIS'S FLAG VIEWS.
A Letter Which Everybody VIII at Once
Recognize as Bearing No Trace of Forgery.

BALTIMORE, June 30-The Sun has the fol-
lowing letter from jefferson Davis in reference
the return of the Southern battle flags
eff the object now be to unite the people of
the North and South brethren in the Union,
as means to that end every sign of past con-
fict should, as far practicable be obliterated.
To retain point of pride flag captured in
battle by either the Union confederate sol
diers would be equivalent to renewed exultaton
of triumph by the one or the other, and surely
not a step toward the restoration of
peace. Flags captured from foreign enemy
may be retained trophies after peace, but
here a cessation of hostlties is not pretended to
be the equivalent TO determination. | have
heard of various instances in which Southern
soldiers, having retained flags captured in bat
tie, did, after the war, send them back 20 the or
ganiZatiOn from which they were captured, and
L have heard of instance when such trophy
has been displayed at a reunion of Southern sol
diers to manifest their in battle over
their Northern brethren. Our men fought fo~
principle. and that they have not surrendered
out, rather hopelessly lived TO see the
rever: to the teachings of their slres
and re-establish the government according to
the Constitution on which it was founded. That
is the only victory which would ce to them and
their children thing to be pr I'D aud Gioriaea.
When the confederate govern.neut evacuated
Richmond, many -fags captured in battle were
deposited in the Office in Richmond. So far
as l know, they were all left there and found
by the United States troops when they entered
the city. This would. at least, exhibit proof of
the fact that the South did not wish TO treasure
up such evidence of any triumpns it
had the North When
Washington received the surrender of Corn wallis
at Yorktown he required the British colors to be
delivered to him in cases. The United States
government presented these flags to General
Washington. and he left them to George Wash
ington Parke Custis. by whom they were sim
trusted to when [ was Secretary of War, and
left in the War Office at Washington. Though
these were foreign flags and signs of a very
memorable occasion. the then United States
government did not deem them of sufficient i'm
portance to be exhibited trophies of victory
over former enemy, but presented them to the
soldier TO whom they had been surrendered
The South has manifested no desire to have pos
session Of the flags lost in battle; their value
departed when they were surrendered, and the
excitement which has been created over
the proposition to return, both to
the North and the South, the flags they had lost
in battle, seems very like tempest in tea pot.
Whether they should lie and be consumed by
moth in boxes of the United States War Office or
be returned to their former owners has one ele-
ment of value, which is that the restoration
would be a declaration, such as the old Romans
made, that there should be triumph for
victory won in civil So far as it should ex-
press the feeling of restored fraternity it would
be advance toward that condition which all
reasonable men will recognize as desirable
among those who are to live together"